Guitar Hero 4 instruments, song creation detailed

  • By Brendan Sinclair, Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
  • Posted May 15, 2008 1:26 pm PT

Latest Game Informer spills beans on cymbal-enabled drum kit, character and guitar creation, song-creation toolset, and music sharing.

Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that the the June issue of Game Informer would be jam-packed with details of Activision's Guitar Hero 4, due out this fall. That issue has since arrived in subscribers' mailboxes, confirming the accuracy of the original post and providing more details on developer Neversoft's second crack at the rhythm gaming franchise.

As initially revealed by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick in a recent interview, Guitar Hero 4 will add drums and vocals a la Rock Band. Game Informer's feature includes a shot of the referenced drum kit, which includes three pads, two elevated cymbals, and a pedal (as opposed to Rock Band's four pads and a pedal). For those keeping track, that means the Guitar Hero 4 kit has one extra input than the Rock Band equivalent, raising compatibility questions for the two series' instruments yet again. The developer is going wireless with Guitar Hero 4's drum pads, and will be making them pressure-sensitive so the game can tell if players are wailing on the drums or meekly tapping them.

The details in Game Informer also clear up the mystery surrounding the "innovation" which Activision promised was coming to the Guitar Hero series in a recent earnings report conference call. The article outlines the game's studio mode, which will give users a variety of ways to create their own songs. Players will be able to jam along with one of the game's existing tracks, record songs as they're played, or meticulously detail note charts.

As rumored, the game will also allow users to share the songs they create. Players will initially only be able to upload five songs for others to enjoy, but if those tracks are rated highly by other users, the creators might "get signed," raising the cap to 10 songs or more.

292 Comments

  • Jamez634

    Posted Jan 31, 2009 11:20 pm PT

    But what of DS?

  • RockEvo

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 4:21 pm PT

    i hope this game will be better than rock band. now that u can create your own songs, isnt that cool....

  • Vosty

    Posted Sep 3, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    Yes you can use the rock band drums it has been announced. You will have 1 less hit note because gh wt has 3 pads 2 symbols "5 hits Total not including bass pedal" and rock band has only 4 pads.

  • TheWarrior_94

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 5:17 pm PT

    Also will you even be able to play rock band drums on the GuitarHero game? If not this game is a difinate no no for me!

  • TheWarrior_94

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 5:14 pm PT

    WHICH 1 SHOULD I buy, Rock Band 2 or Guitarhero IV?! I've already got everything for rock band and also have guitarhero III! I like the set list for rock band 2 but I really like Metallica and they are releasing their new album exclusively on guitarhero IV! I think i'll probably wait intill the whole set list for Guitarhero IV comes out and then decide!

  • division_9

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:11 am PT

    Make youre own songs?. If it wasnt for rock band Guitar Hero 4 would suck.

  • nklslinde21

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 9:10 am PT

    gosh, please give the ps2 online playy!

  • -White_Knight-

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:58 am PT

    Can't wait to make my own songs, and remake some Zeppelin songs.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted May 31, 2008 3:26 pm PT

    will this be for PS2???

  • thadude85

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:18 pm PT

    this could be the final nail in the coffin of my life. i have always wanted to be able to make my own songs on rock band, always wanted quiter drums with actuall kick back and real cymbal placement. and guitar heros guitar play puts rock bands to shame. if this game pumps out dlc like rock band has been than rock band wont be able to compete.

  • -Beatz-

    Posted May 27, 2008 9:11 am PT

    Oh my god, do you even have ANY freakin' idea of game-developing business? Who likes Guitar Hero, only guitars, after the full band Rock Band kit? No one. The only things that are better are the songs, but also, Rock Band has so much of them , that even THAT makes RB better. How can they compete with RB? And what's the name about, does anyone whine that, "Wee, Silent Hill isn't silent, the zombies are howling." Who cares about the name anyway? Ofcourse, the GameSpot users. Seriously, go out, enjoy the summer. Go swim, get a girlfriend, and all that.

  • Neo_Geno

    Posted May 24, 2008 11:50 am PT

    If they just called this game "Band Hero" or something, people wouldn't buy it...

    "Guitar Hero" is the brand that is popular... "Band Hero" just sounds like some cheap knockoff... What they should do is subtly change the name...

    Like this game is called "Guitar Hero: World Tour" The next game should be called "World Tour 2" or something else that'll subtly take off the "Guitar Hero" name while establishing a new brand name...

    Kind of like how it happened with the "Rambo" movies...

    And I don't know why people think there is going to be a "Rock Band 2" When "Rock Band" itself is still getting new songs every week...

  • xXBu1l3tPrOofXx

    Posted May 23, 2008 2:46 pm PT

    I think this game will be worth the money. I think they should just stick with the guitars. I like how you can really customize the guitar(pickup, knobs, ect..) The drumming also looks cool. They DEFINITELY need to have an optional bass pedal for a double kick. Then they can put in some Disturbed, Mudvayne, and Slipknot and make the drumming for those songs challenging.

  • NoKuA

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:42 am PT

    Activision went nuts!!!!

    rock band is rock band a lame game that has to be played by at least three ppl at once... to full enjoyment.

    GUITAR HERO is GUITAR HERO!!!! it means just guitar that's the greatness in it...

    don't toss it all to the trash can!!!

    come on!!!

  • dilutedme

    Posted May 22, 2008 2:02 am PT

    I want to see a song list before I decide to drop $200 on this game/bundle...

  • iamBenG

    Posted May 21, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    All you people saying that they should keep just guitars have either not played Rock Band, or not heard of it. All these insturments makes it a more diverse, longer lasting, and better game. I do think that maybe they shouldn't still call it Guitar Hero, but adding this was definitely in their best interest, and my favorite part is them giving people a chance to be truly artistic, I was an advocate of Rock Band, but I am seriously considering buying this, the drums look just like existing MIDI drum kits and I there is supposedly some new thing the guitar can do that's patent is still pending.

  • ghistos

    Posted May 21, 2008 10:56 am PT

    Why not insert two guitars and one bass... before the micro and drum

  • cypher787

    Posted May 21, 2008 10:21 am PT

    gh3 had one that right there makes it grand gh2 was probly the best overall except the bull$hit of the hammer-ons not working half the time when it says you can do it gh3 had some bad songs in it but i love one and cult of personality is awesome too

  • RepublicofJosh

    Posted May 21, 2008 8:41 am PT

    No no no...No double bass people, if you going to add another pedal make it a high hat pedal...that you hold down or up...also I will not be buying this game. I'm all set with rock band and I don't want more fake plastic drums on my floor....speaking of which they should add that radiohead song...that's be awesome

  • Untouchable_Dra

    Posted May 21, 2008 7:32 am PT

    I agree with "I-Am-TheGamexx"...its true Guitar Hero should STAY guitar hero...Activision should leave out the drums and vocals otherwise GH4 will pretty much just be Rock Band 2...=S

    I agree with you to AussieReviewer to some extent...GH2 was the best out all of the 4 released so far (GH1, GH2, GH:RocksThe80's, GH3)..GH2 was the best but GH3 wasn't too bad...you have 2 remember that GH3 was developed by a different firm, RedOctane didn't develop the 3rd one, so obviously there would be differences, but i do believe that GH3 took a step backwards instead of forwards like it should have done

  • AussieReviewer

    Posted May 21, 2008 12:50 am PT

    i agree with "I-Am-TheGamexx"

    stick to what you're good at Mr. Guitar Hero people

    or USED to be good at.

    GH3 sucked ass in my opinion. GH2 is dominant still

  • I-Am-The-Gamexx

    Posted May 20, 2008 3:16 pm PT

    its called GUITAR HERO!!!!! not guitar,drums,singing hero!

  • chaos_302

    Posted May 20, 2008 12:27 pm PT

    im not sure if the name of the game is "Guitar Hero" or what??? ne wayz this sound pretty cool considering the new dumbs and song making opportunities. after all change is not necessarily bad... im keeping tabs on this game to see the out come... hopefully theyll have a demo at game stores for ppl to try out. and a second base pedal wouldnt hurt.

  • KSU1Fan

    Posted May 20, 2008 7:41 am PT

    ok, this is stupid...guitar hero is suppose to be for guitars only and rock band was suppose to be for guitars, drums, and vocals...activision needs to leave guitar hero being the guitar game

  • gooeymoo

    Posted May 20, 2008 6:43 am PT

    For the drums i reckon they should have 2 bass pedals, for double bass drumming songs and the guitar should be like the rockband one with the extra fret buttons, also i think that you should be able to yank the whammybar up so you can produce screaming harmonics!

  • alvizz

    Posted May 20, 2008 4:51 am PT

    This sounds great! I hope they improve the easily broken drums and the sensitive-thing with the drums sounds really nice. Rock Band seems pretty cool but I don't want to buy something really expensive that doesn't work proper. It's better to buy the upgrade I think (and hope), GH4...

  • DeathByControl

    Posted May 19, 2008 8:58 pm PT

    i thought this was GUITAR hero

  • EaglePride25

    Posted May 19, 2008 4:01 pm PT

    im pumped. hopefully the drum set isnt as flimsy as the rock band one, mine broke in the first two weeks. with the cymbals its gonna be crazy hard but hella fun. cant wait to see the songlist, hope afterlife by avenged sevenfold is on there.

  • bstclair1

    Posted May 18, 2008 10:04 pm PT

    yeah i agree with jmcclure. the "online" play in rock band was really misleading. the first thing me and my xbox live friends did was try to form a band but realized that we couldn't. it really took a lot of gameplay away and was a hug disappointment. there is a lot of room for improvement with the release of GH4--let's see if they deliver.

  • Koopalama

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:21 pm PT

    sounds great but i hope it isnt as expensive as rock band. 180$ is too much

  • jmcclure

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:02 pm PT

    i wouldnt say this is a copy of rock band, but rather its just where GH4 has to go to compete with inevitable later iterations of rock band. the drums parts are automatically going to be more difficult just based on the pad placement and the extra input, and hopefully activision wont go the way of the "world tour" and make you play the same songs over and over and over again. rock band is cool but once you get past its gimmicky nature, a lot of things about it suck. GH4 will probably be a far superior game to rockband because it wont be able to sell based on its originality like rockband did, so something about it is going to have to be pretty sweet and unique in order to get people to dish out the $$$ for this.

  • WiiMan21

    Posted May 18, 2008 8:40 pm PT

    Drums and vocals? Sounds like Guitardrumsing hero to me.

  • SirFrosty

    Posted May 18, 2008 3:50 pm PT

    Woo! I can't wait! Guitar Hero IV is gonna rock mah socks off!

  • Geek12

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:44 am PT

    Competition.. Lets see if it works and benefits the Genre

  • prioritymail

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:09 am PT

    Although this is a copy of rock band, I like the innovations going on

  • pmase14

    Posted May 18, 2008 7:30 am PT

    Actually, Rock band was created by Harmonix, a company that worked on the first 2 GH games. So, Rock Band, even though a new IP, isn't really a knock off. But I agree with bush66, I'm not sure I'm willing to fork over additional money for a bundle that includes another drumkit (unless it's sold seperately at a very decent price). But definitely sounds really cool

  • bullsfan769

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:23 am PT

    well, guitar hero has been around for a long time; people might disagree, even though rock band was kinda a ripoff from guitar hero it was way more innovative

  • bush66

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:00 am PT

    Wow, this whole song writting sounds, pretty cool. However, if the rock band drums aren't compatiable with this game, I'm not so sure I gonna fork over the money for a whole new drumkit (even though the gh one sounds really cool).

  • Elitekiller1172

    Posted May 18, 2008 3:34 am PT

    create ur own songs i dnt know how theyll do it but CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!

  • km1498

    Posted May 18, 2008 2:40 am PT

    The drums sound kinda nice, but I am really more of a guitar player than a singer or drummer.

  • D3ADMaggot911

    Posted May 18, 2008 12:07 am PT

    I'm gonna guess that GH4 Controller / instrument(s) wont Break as Much as Rock Bands.

  • kennethja

    Posted May 17, 2008 10:30 pm PT

    they should change the name, because it wouldnt be guitar hero anymore it would be band hero or something

  • digxxbitty

    Posted May 17, 2008 10:23 pm PT

    the drums do sound sweet, but i took up real drumming after playing rock band so i prob won't buy gh4. and i agree with bluefire1360, but you could inprove your post by spelling "improve" correctly =)

  • bluefire1360

    Posted May 17, 2008 9:49 pm PT

    Wow you people are saying this is copieng rock band? its no copieng its inproving, games have been "inproving" on each other for years. In my opinion this is gonna kick rock bands ass, because it did what rock band did, INPROVED it and made it better. Also added lots of additional stuff like make your own song, i really dont think rock band will last much longer, guitar hero will always be king. Remember, the people who made rock band invented guitar hero, it's hard to inprove on somthing that you have made that is already amazing, i think harmonix should have stayed with guitar hero.

  • royalpierre

    Posted May 17, 2008 9:12 pm PT

    Hopefully now in guitar hero 4 you'll be able to play co-op online.

  • cheese4927

    Posted May 17, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    Wow it looks like Guitar Hero is coming back after Rock Band revolutionized music games. Now they're innovating it even more!

  • BrokenRemains

    Posted May 17, 2008 5:48 pm PT

    rock band sucks big time

  • TrevSkyline

    Posted May 17, 2008 5:15 pm PT

    Great!

    Guitar Hero USED to be original.......now they are copying Rock Band!

    Keep to what you know best IMHO.

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:20 pm PT

    Kooken58, Rock Band doesn't have the issues picking up notes. That is the fault of the unresponsive guitar they released with the game. I use GH2 guitar with RB and it is actually the most responsive of the music genre IMO.

  • julian2890

    Posted May 17, 2008 2:43 pm PT

    they better change the name or else it makes no sense at all

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